US Military Ordered to Prepare for Renewed Conflict with Iran

The Pentagon has instructed the U.S. military's Central Command to finalize preparations for a potential renewal of extensive combat operations against Iran. While no specific date for an attack was provided, and President Trump has not yet made a final decision, American and Israeli sources suggest this could occur before the U.S. midterm elections. These elections are scheduled to take place shortly after Israel's own general elections, which are set for one week prior.

Should these operations resume, they are expected to involve significant bombing of Iran's energy, infrastructure, and nuclear targets, according to informed sources. A renewal of hostilities within the next three to four weeks could dramatically impact the U.S. midterm elections, primarily by potentially causing a further surge in oil prices. The conflict could also significantly affect Israel's elections, as Iran might retaliate by launching ballistic missiles toward Israel. A heightened state of tension or emergency could politically benefit Prime Minister Netanyahu, making it harder for his rivals to challenge him in the final stretch of the campaign, and in an extreme scenario, could even lead to the postponement of elections.

An American defense official stated that the Department of Defense's role is to develop and present military options to the President. A White House official emphasized that all options remain available to President Trump, asserting that the U.S. is in a strong position with control over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's collapsing economy. The official added that Iran has been severely impacted and the situation will resolve either "the easy way or the hard way," with President Trump holding all the cards.

Recently, President Trump's senior national security team convened at Camp David to discuss, among other issues, the conflict with Iran. An Israeli official confirmed that part of the meeting focused on the possibility of resuming extensive combat operations against Iran. Following the meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented that it focused on long-term foreign policy planning.

An Israeli official noted that discussions about renewing extensive combat operations against Iran have gained momentum, stating that while the chances of it happening before the elections are not high, they are not being ruled out. The likelihood increases significantly after the U.S. midterm elections. President Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, their second call in a week, after a prolonged period of infrequent communication. An American official indicated the call concerned the anniversary of the October 7th massacre. This conversation followed Netanyahu convening his national security team to discuss Iran, according to an Israeli official.

If extensive combat operations against Iran are renewed, they are likely to be conducted in coordination between the U.S. and Israel, with the IDF participating in the strikes. Two senior Israeli officials suggested that the Iranian regime is currently in a state of desperation and paranoia, which could prompt them to take the initiative and attack first, as they feel they cannot afford a third surprise after two previous ones.